Many of the youth advocates came to CSW eager to learn new information at side events, network with colleagues from other countries, share their unique perspectives and collectively strategize about advocacy efforts. While for some youth advocates this dream was realized, for others –particularly those who do not speak English– the experience at the UN turned out quite differently than anticipated. The United Nations has six official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish – and is required to offer simultaneous translation in all of them to make sure the meetings and negotiations are truly accessible to international participants. However, some of our Latino colleagues found their access to information limited.

“My expectations were to participate and contribute in CSW from the youth perspective; to acquaint myself with other youth advocates and feminists. But, there was no translation during side events so it’s been impossible for me to communicate with other advocates because the whole world speaks English,” remarked Daniela Santos, a youth advocate from Colombia who only speaks Spanish. Such frustration is warranted as translation services in general were lacking at this year’s CSW. Few side events have had adequate translation services and even side events that take place in UN buildings were not providing easily accessible translations. The only forum where translations were consistently provided is in the General Assembly, and only if you were lucky enough to find seating in the first conference room, where headset devices can be tuned to different channels with simultaneous translation. The second conference room only broadcasts in English.

Another issue that frustrated youth advocates was the lack of opportunities to provide the youth perspective in policy discussions and strategy sessions. Many felt like they were not being taken seriously because they are young. Humberto Yllescas Quiroz of Peru explains, “As youths, we have a lot to say. The question is, is anybody listening to us?” For youth advocates who had hoped to influence this year’s agreed upon documents at CSW to include more youth-friendly language, the experience over the last two weeks was disappointing. As Yllescas laments, “Age isn’t important. What matters is that we’re all human beings. We [youth advocates] have a different point of view, but it is equally respectable as that of older advocates.”

Both Santos and Yllescas hope that future UN conferences will be more inclusive-both of participants who speak different languages and of participants from younger generations. We at the International Women’s Health Coalition hope they will too.